Karachi has numerous parks, among which the Ibn Qasim Park in Clifton stands out for its vastness, covering 130 acres. Other notable parks include Amir Khusro Park, Auntie Park, Aziz Bhatti Park, Hill Park, Educational Garden, Nisar Shaheed Park, Safari Park, Sir Syed Park, Clifton Beach View Park, and Lake Park. Kidney Hill Park, however, holds the distinction of being built at the highest point in Karachi, situated 219 feet above ground. The Karachi Development Authority decided to build this park in 1964, and a formal notification was issued in November 1966 to allocate the area as a recreational zone under the “Falak Nama” scheme.
In September 1969, when the KMC began constructing a boundary wall to secure the land, the Federal Ministry of Construction objected, stating that the area was under federal jurisdiction and instructed the KMC to halt the work. The KMC requested intervention from the President of Pakistan, leading to an order on February 3, 1982, that Kidney Hill Park should be built and plots previously allocated for residential development be cancelled. A decision was made on February 4, 1983, to hand over the 62-acre land to KMC for park construction, but no action was taken for the next 10 years.
In 1974, the land was handed over to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to build a unique and attractive park, but due to various reasons, the construction never began. Gradually, land mafia began occupying the area, and bungalows were constructed on the park land, effectively ending the idea of creating a park. Construction of Kidney Hill Park started in September 2019 under the Supreme Court’s order, with KMC removing all encroachments and restoring the area to its original state for park development. Municipal Commissioner Dr. Saifur Rehman faced many issues, including the presence of hotels, guest houses, and other structures, as well as waste and pollution.
In October 2019, a geographical survey was conducted to clarify the situation. The survey provided information about water and sewage lines, electrical poles, telephone wires, and other utilities, as well as existing trees and the park’s topography. This data was used for designing the park to ensure a high-quality layout. Once the survey was complete, construction began with the removal of encroachments, which was a challenging process. The land was then levelled using heavy machinery, and inappropriate wild plants, trees, and bushes were cleared. Various types of plants were planted, and rows of green and colourful plants were established.
The park’s construction faced many difficulties due to the rocky terrain, but with persistent effort, the plants began to thrive and have now grown into mature trees. Various social and philanthropic individuals contributed significantly, providing thousands of plants. Recently, the Fauzia Wahab Fruits Garden was established, featuring trees of chiku, almonds, bananas, and mangoes, along with sweet potato and other fruit plants. The park now includes grass patches, benches, and two beautiful ponds with lotus flowers.
From the park, one can enjoy panoramic views of the city, including landmarks like the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, the coastline, and the Bahria Icon Tower. Other visible landmarks include the Civic Center, Radio Pakistan’s new building, Sui Southern Gas Company’s headquarters, the airport, Sharae Faisal, and PAF Base Masroor. To date, over 200,000 flowering, fruit-bearing, and shade trees have been planted. The park features paved walkways and two walking trails named “Coconut Trail” and “Dhoraji Trail,” along with twelve different trails named after Pakistan’s mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, fruits, forests, and deserts.
Kidney Hill Park is a high-altitude, scenic location, and while the rocky ground makes plant growth challenging, the efforts of the gardeners have made it possible. Traditional Karachi plants such as neem, coconut, jungle jalebi, papaya, guava, moringa, bougainvillaea, and gulmohar have been planted. Existing acacia trees have been pruned into canopies, adding to the park’s beauty. Birds have also made their home here, adding to the charm of the park with their morning songs. The park features two beautiful ponds with lotus flowers and offers a stunning view of the city at night, with twinkling lights creating a magical atmosphere.
A mosque, whose foundation was laid by Sheikh-ul-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, and a shrine are also located in the park. On March 21, 2022, Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab inaugurated a waterfall named after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and installed 24 light towers with 96 floodlights. A garden was built in front of the waterfall for visitors to enjoy the view of cascading water. The waterfall is 200 feet long and 25 feet high, enhancing the park’s lush and vibrant ambiance.
Trees from Karachi Bus Rapid Transit routes are also being relocated to this park, increasing the number of trees. The Chief Minister of Sindh directed that brick roads be built in the park to enhance its beauty. Few Karachiites are aware of Kidney Hill Park’s location, which can be accessed via various routes, including from the Coconut Ground via Haider Ali Road, from Rangoonwala Hall, and from Ghazi Salahuddin Road.
This beautiful, charming, and picturesque park awaits your visit. Notably, entry to the park is completely free, and you can explore it using your personal vehicle.
